Oroville man convicted on charges of assault, intimidation and firearms

on Tuesday of all charges stemming from incidents at his residence last summer.

The Butte County Superior Court jury deliberated for just over two hours before finding John Edwin Bragas, 56, guilty of dissuading a witness by force or threat, criminal threats, assault with a deadly weapon and nine counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The panel of seven men and five women also affirmed special allegations that he used a .22-caliber revolver in the counts involving threats and a pair of scissors in the assault case.

Deputy district attorney David Garner said outside of court that he was pleased with the outcome and the jury had made the right decision.

He said the criminal threats and dissuasion incidents involved Bragas' long-term girlfriend at their residence on July 25.

The assault reportedly took place two weeks prior, when Bragas took exception to a haircut done by the girlfriend's daughter. He reportedly grabbed the scissors and pulled her by her hair and threatened to gouge her eyes out.

Garner said the victims testified that Bragas had dissuaded them from calling police for years as part of a cycle of abuse.

During a wide-ranging closing argument Tuesday, Bragas charged his former girlfriend of 22 years and her daughter were lying, and that the court allowed them to make unsubstantiated allegations.

"They were allowed to say whatever they wanted to say," he said.

Bragas asserted the girlfriend was upset and wanted him gone because he had a relationship with her daughter, with whom he may have fathered a child. He admitted the relationship was wrong and was planning to move before the charges were brought.

Bragas denied the charges of violence, saying there had been no calls for help at the residence for 22 years before the incident and that the prosecution had tried to make something sinister of the incidents.

Regarding the haircut incident, he said he was joking when he told the daughter to get it right or he would cut her eyeballs out. Bragas said she joked back.

Bragas acknowledged there were guns in the house, saying they started acquiring them for protection in 2004. However, he maintained his innocence in the violent acts.

"I wouldn't even be here if I was guilty of the other charges; I would've made a deal with Mr. Garner," Bragas said.

Garner responded that Bragas had shown who he was — a liar and a manipulator — and that he had admitted to elements of his crimes.

After the jury handed down its verdict, Judge James Reilley set sentencing for March 13.